Thursday, March 21, 2013

Now come the tax cuts

Rep. Charlie Collins' windfall for rich people seems to lead the list of favorites, though House speaker Davy Carter's blind faith in cutting the single levy already most beneficial to the smallest number of wealthy people — the advantage given capital gains income — remains high on his honey-do list.

* Republican legislators have proposed tax cuts first without any meaningful discussion about existing needs and impact on higher education, prisons and other vital services. Does a cutting edge high-tech entrepreneur really hold low taxes paramount? Or might they prefer to locate in a place with a quality higher education system and a system of laws that values men and women, if not equally, at least with a shred of the respect accorded guns?

* Republican leaders are also pushing a raid on general revenue for highway building, an adventure that could make it even harder for existing services to sustain themselves. This plan also now comes with an unconscionable bribe payment to win support from the city and county government lobby, rolling in so much road money already from turnback that they don't need more. Now Republican leaders will give the dough to cities and counties for any use they might desire, public official pay raises or whatever. Maybe Buddy can paint that bridge red, white and blue after all.

That said, let the tax cutting and succor of the wealthy begin.

But whatever you do, don't forget guns and fetuses. More guns and fewer medical rights are Arkansas's ticket to becoming a magnet for the new economy. Aren't they?

(Until now, Republicans have been remiss in another vital economic development area — continuing to be a national leader in developing legal means to discriminate against gay people. But the vaginal wand proponent from Conway is ranting on Twitter now on that subject, particularly the coming Supreme Court arguments on same-sex marriage. So perhaps that vacuum is soon to be filled.)

An Arkansas anti-abortion law is a phony. It's about ending abortion, not protecting women and a New York Times writer says it could present an important case for the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Arkansas Supreme Court continues to grapple, with divisions, on how to square new federal and state law on resentencing people who got life without parole sentences for capital crimes committed when they were minors.

The State Police say Brett McCullough, 52, of Hot Springs, was killed by a hit-and-run driver while riding a bicycle about 8:47 p.m. Wednesday on Highway 70 West (Airport Road) in Hot Springs.

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